Apparatus for liquefying carbon dioxide



Patented Sept. 5, 1933 PATE NT OFFICE APPARATUS FOR- LIQUEFYING CARBON DIOXIDE Luring L. Mohler, Tulsa, Okla., assignor, to

00-2 Appliance Company, Tulsa, Okla.

Application September 2, 1931 Serial No. 560,824

24 Claims.

The invention relates to apparatus for liquefying solid carbon dioxide and particularly adapted for use in place of drums of carbon dioxide as now commonly used in soda fountains, bottling plants and anywhere CO2 gas is desired for various purposes.

A further object is to provide a carbon dioxide liquefier comprising a chamber in which solid carbon dioxide is placed and liquefied and a second chamber in communication with the first named chamber,-into which the liquefied carbon dioxide passes from the first chamber, and means whereby liquid from either chamber may be discharged for use as desired.

A further object is to provide means whereby liquid generated in either chamber may be used as desired, thereby allowing the use from one chamber, for instance the storage chamber, while more liquid is being generated in the other chamber, or from the generating chamber while the a storage chamber is being filled.

A further object is to provide a discharge pipe in communication with both chambers and valve meanswhereby carbon dioxide gas may be allowed to discharge from either chamber.

A further object is to provide a valve system whereby, when the generating chamber content is dissipated, it may be cut off from the storage chamber for allowing refilling of the generating chamber andat the same time allowing discharge.

from the storage chamber, thereby allowing continued use of the device during refilling.

A further object is to provide the by-pass pipe connecting the generating and storage chambers with a pressure controlled valve whereby the pressure will be equalized in both chambers, as liquid is discharged from either chamber.

A further object is to provide a heating element within the generating chamber, preferably thermostatically controlled, and forming means whereby rapid generation or dissipation of the solid carbon dioxide may be obtained, particularly where a great dealof gas is desired and utilized in a short period of time, and where the normal generation, without a heating element, would not be suflicient to supply the particular need.

A further object is to provide, within the generating chamber, a perforated support for the solid carbon dioxide, which will prevent the complete filling of the upper chamber with solid 0.02 and thus avoid danger of excessive pressure.

A further object -is to provide an exhaust valve for the generating chamber, controlling releasing means for a cover in a manner whereby the releasing means cannot be releaseduntil the valve is opened, thereby preventing the opening of the cover by the operator when there is excessive pressure within the generating chamber.

A further object is to form said cover from segmentally shaped sections, hingedly mounted and adapted to receive in channels thereof, registering flanges of a cover and easing when brought together, a toggle bolt connection between said segmentally shaped members and means carried by the exhaust valve and cooperating with the toggle bolt whereby said toggle 7 bolt cannot be opened until the valve is opened.

With the above and other objects in view, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts as hereinafter set forth, shown in the drawing, described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device,

showing the same partly in section to better illustrate the same.

Figure 2 is a perspective view of the upper end of the device showing the cover in open position for refilling purposes.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse sectional view through the central portion of the device taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a detail perspective view of a portion of the upper end of the device, showing its cover As the solid carbon dioxide is liquefied into the bottom of the chamber 2, and then passes through the bypass pipe 8 into the storage chamber 3, preferably through a valve 9, which is open at all times except when the pressure'in both chambers shows a decrease and during the period of replenishing and generation in the upper cham-' ber. Disposed within the generating chamber 2,. beneath the partition 5, is a conventional form of electric heating element 10 controlled by an electro-thermostat,which automatically energizes and de-energizes the heating element; said thermostat being designated by the numeral 11. By providing the heating element, rapid generation of liquid from the solid carbon dioxide is made possible, and is particularly desirable where the CO2 gas is rapidly used and required in a quantity above normal generation, without the heating element. The thermostat automatically operates when the upper chamber is filled with solid CO2 and when the solid CO2 has been generated to a fluid, the temperature rises, operating the electro-thermostat and cuts off the heating element until the charging operation is repeated, thus it will be seen that where quick generation is desired, the heating element will be energized.

Chambers 2 and 3 are connected together by a discharge pipe 12 having a common discharge pipe 13 and valves 14. and 15. By manipulating valves 14 and 15, it will be seen that liquid carbon dioxide within either chamber can be selectively used. For instance when the chamber 2 is being refilled with solid carbon dioxide, valve 14 can be closed, and valve 15 opened, thereby allowing discharge from the storage chamber 3 without discharge into the chamber 2. It will also be seen that while liquid carbon dioxide is being by-passed into the chamber 3, the gas can be used from chamber 2.

Disposed adjacent the valves 14 and 15 are conventional forms of fracture disc valves 16, which relieve the internal pressure at given points. If so desired by-pass pipe 8 may be connected in the plugged aperture 17, when it is de sired to maintain a greater volume of liquid in the generating chamber 2, and not completely fill the supply chamber 3, and by this arrangement, the possibility of the lower chamber becoming hydrostatic is eliminated, and of course the complete filling of the chamber 3 may be prevented, thereby obviating any hydrostatic condition, as there would never be enough liquid, in the generating chamber 2, to completely fill the lower chamber, leaving no gas space in the lower chamber. This is a particularly desirable feature, as it forms a safety precaution, which is very important in handling the necessary high pressures. Valve 9 is open at all times except when the pressure in both chambers shows a decrease and during the period of refilling and generation in the upper chamber 2.

A second by-pass pipe 18 is provided as shown in Figure 3, and serves to relieve the storage pressure into the chamber 2 from chamber 3, or vice versa, in the event the chamber3 is complete filled with fiufi and shutoff, heats, expands and goes hydrostatic, and also acts as a safety device for preventing breaking of the device under these conditions. Pipe 18 is provided with a pressure valve 19 adapted to be set at a predetermined pressure, for instance fifteen hundred pounds. If the pressure should go above the predetermined amount in either chamber, it will be by-passed into the other chamber which necessarily has a certain amount of gas space available, allowing for a considerable range of expansion, therefore, it will be seen that danger of explosion is obviated. Fracture valves 16 are set at a predetermined pressure, for instance two thousand pounds.

If, for any reason, valve 19 does not operate, the fracture disc valves would rupture at their set pressure, thereby preventing bursting of the walls of the chambers. It will be noted, by providing the by-pass pipe 18, there is more than a safety feature. Instead of breaking the tank or cells of the chambers 2 and 3, the pressure is diverted into the other chamber where the gas can be used, and waste gas would not take place, which is a very desirable saving, not only of the machine, but material.

When it is desired to fill the chamber 2 with solid carbon dioxide, there should be substantially no pressure within the chamber 2 when the cover 20 is removed. However, it is extremely important not' to open the device until the pressure Within the chamber 2 is relieved, and to accomplish this result a relief valve 21 is provided on the upper end of the cylinder 1, which is opened by the rotation of the handle 22 carried by the valve stem 23. For instance a quarter turn of the valve stem 23 opens the valve; the valve being a quick opening type. Mounted on the valve stem 23 is an arm 24 having an annular member 25 on the end thereof, which is adapted to encircle the nut 26 of the toggle bolt 27, which holds the arcuate members 28 in close position around the cover 20, therefore it will be seen that when the operator wants to replenish the supply of solid carbon dioxide in the chamber 2, it will be necessary to open the valve 21 before the nut 26 can be rotated for releasing the toggle bolt and arcuate members 28. The arcuate members 28 are hingedly mounted on a bracket 29 carried by one side of the cylinder and are provided with channels 30, which receive the registering flanges 31 of the cylinder and cover when the cover is in closed position. Cover 31 is preferably provided with a handle member 33 for moving the same, and a packing 33 is utilized for making an air-proof connection.

It will be noted that applicant does not depend upon pressures for maintaining the cover in closed position, but upon positive mechanical clamping members, which can only be opened when the exhaust valve 21 is in open position, thereby preventing danger of injury to the operator.

From the above it will be seen that an apparatus is provided for liquefying solid carbon dioxide in a manner whereby the liquid CO2 may be utilized for various purposes, and discharged from a generating chamber, or from a storage chamber as desired, or both. Means is also provided for equalizing pressure between the chambers for preventing danger of explosion, as well as means for heating the solid carbon dioxide for insuring a rapid reduction to a liquid as desired.

It will be seen that the discharge pipe 12 also forms a by-pass connection between the chambers 2 and 3 acting in the same manner as the by-pass pipes 8 and 18 for transferring the generated gas from one chamber to the other, hence it has a double function of allowing transfer from another level in the generating chamber and for equalization of pressure in the chambers.

The invention having been set forth what is claimed as new and useful is:

1. A liquefier for chemical solids comprising a single casing having a generating chamber for the reception of chemical solids, a storage chamber in said casing for the reception of liquid or gas, a wall between said chambers, means for discharging the liquids from the generating chamber and by-passing the wall into the storage chamber and means for discharging liquid generated in the device for use.

2. A liquefier for chemical solids comprising a casing having a generating chamber for the reception of chemical solids, a casing having a storage chamber for the reception of liquid from the generating chamber, means for discharging liquids from the generating chamber into the storage chamber, means for selectively discharging liquids from either the generating or storage chambers and means connecting the generating and storage chambers whereby pressure within the chambers can be equalized.

3.- Aliquefler for solid carbon dioxide comprising a casing having a generating chamber, a casing having a storage chamber, means for discharging liquid from the generating chamber into the storage chamber, means for discharging liquid orgas from either of said chambers; or both, and means for heating liquid and material in the generating chamber whereby the solid carbon dioxide is rapidly reduced to a liquid.

4. A liquefier for solid carbon dioxide comprising a casing having a generating chamber, a casing having a storage chamber, means for discharging liquid from the generating chamber into the storage chamber, means for utilizing liquid from the generating chamber and storage cham ber as desired, heating means within the generating chamber whereby the solid carbon dioxide is rapidly reduced to a liquid, said heating means being controlled by the temperature of the solid carbon dioxide within the generating chamber.

5. A liquefier for solid carbon dioxide comprising a casing having a generating chamber therein, a casing having a storage chamber, a discharge connection between the generating chamber and storage chamber, a perforated partition within the generating chamber spaced from the bottom thereof and adapted to support solid carbon dioxide and allow the liquefied carbon dioxide to accumulate in the bottom of the chamber beneath the partition, a heating element in the generating chamber beneath the perforated partition and thermostatic means controlled by temperature within the generating chamber for regulating the heating.

6. A liquefier for solid carbon dioxide comprising a casing having a generating chamber and a supply chamber for storage purposes, a partition dividing said chambers, a by-pass connection between said chambers, a by-pass relief valve connection between said chambers whereby pressure can be equalized in said chambers, a perforated partition in the generating chamber spaced from the lower end thereof and adapted to support solid carbon dioxide and a heating element in said chamber beneath the perforated partition.

7. A liquefier for solid carbon dioxide comprising a casing having a generating chamber and a supply chamber for storage purposes, means for discharging liquid carbon dioxide gas from said chambers as desired, a perforated supporting partition in the generating chamber for the solid carbon dioxide and spaced from the lower end of the chamber, thereby creating a space for liquid to accumulate beneath the partition, a bypass connection between the generating chamber and the storage chamber and means whereby excessive pressure in the storage chamber will be relieved into the generating chamber, or 'vice versa.

8. The combination with a liquefier for solid carbon dioxide having a liquid generating chamber, a storage chamber, means-for discharging liquid from the generating chamber into the storage chamber, of means whereby excessive pressure within either chamber will be automatically relieved into the other chamber.

9. The combination with'a liquefier for solid carbon dioxide having a liquid generating chamber and a storage chamber, means for discharging liquid into the storage chamber from the generating chamber, of a heating element in connection with the generating chamber whereby solid carbon dioxide in said chamber may be rapidly liquefied and thermostatic means controlled by the temperature of the material in the generating chamber.

10. The combination with the liquefier for solid carbon dioxide having a liquid generating chamber and a storage chamber, means for discharging liquid from the generating chamber into the storage chamber, of a thermostatically controlled heating element in connection with the generating chamber and forming means whereby solid carbon dioxide in said chamber may be rapidly liquefied.

11. A carbon dioxide liquefier comprising a oasing having a liquid generating chamber and a storage chamber therein, a partition in said casing between said chambers, a by-pass connection between the adjacent ends of said chambers, means for discharging liquid from either of said chambers, a perforated solid carbon dioxide supporting partition spaced from the first mentioned partition, a heating element in the generating chamber beneath the perforated partition and pressure relief means connecting said chambers whereby excessive pressure in either one of said 105 chambers will be relieved into the other.

12. A solid carbon dioxide liquefier comprising a single casing having a generating and storage chamber, means for discharging liquid from the generating chamber into the storage chamber, a pipe connection betweenthe generating chamber and the storage chamber, a single discharge pipe carried by said pipe connection and valve'means in said pipe connection whereby gas from either the generating or storage chambers may be discharged from the liquefier.

13. A solid carbon dioxide liquefier as set forth in claim 12 including fracture valves in said pipe connection.

14. In a liquefier as set forth in claim 1 including means whereby the method for discharging the liquid from the generating chamber into the storage chamber may discharge from different levels from the generating chamber.

15. A liquefier comprising a casing, a partition 125 in said casing dividing thesame into a generating chamber and a storage chamber and means whereby liquid from the generating chamber will be discharged into the storage chamber through by-pass means around the partition. 130

16. A device as set forth in claim 15 including means whereby gas generated in either or both chambers may be transferred from one to the other.

17. A device as set forth in claim 15 including 135 a by-pass pipe for discharge and transfer purposes between the chambers.

18. A device as set forth in claim 15 wherein a single discharge pipe is provided having branch connection with both chambers, and means where- 146 by gas may be bypassed between the chambers or discharged through the discharge pipe from either or both chambers.

19. A device as set forth in-claim 1 including valve means in the. by-pass means whereby gas 145 transferred to the storage chamber may be further by-passed around the wall to the generating chamber.

20. A carbon dioxide liquefier comprising a casr ing having a generating chamber and a storage chamber, means for transferring gas from chamher to chamber, said means comprising a by-pass pipe, a discharge pipe in connection with said bypass pipe and valve means in the by-pass pipe at opposite sides of the discharge pipe and forming means whereby generated gas may be by-passed from chamber to chamber or discharged through the discharge pipe from the chambers.

21. A device for producing carbon dioxide under pressure from solidified carbon dioxide comprising a container having an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said compartments normally communicating with each other, means controlled from the outside of the container to prevent the flow of gas from one compartment to the other, a removable cover, and a discharge pipe connected to the upper compartment, and forming means whereby gas generated therein may be utilized before opening the cover.

22. A device for producing carbon dioxide under pressure from solidified carbon dioxide, comprising a container having an upper compartment and a lower compartment, said compartments normally communicating with each other through means disposed outside of the container, and

means controlled from the outside of the container to prevent the flow of gas from one compartment to the other through said outside communicating means.

23.- A device for producing carbon dioxide under i.

pressure from solidified carbon dioxide, comprising a container having a first compartment to receive a quantity of solidified carbon dioxide and a second compartment to receive carbon dioxide under pressure formed by the sublimation of the solidified carbon dioxide in the first compart= ment, said compartments normally communicating with each other through means located out side the container and means located outside the container to prevent the flow of gas from one compartment to the other.

24. The combination with a liquefier having a generating chamber in which material is placed to be liquefied, a heating element in said chamber and forming means whereby the material is rapidly reduced to a liquid and means whereby the operation of the heating element is controlled Toy the temperature of the material in the generating chamber.

LORING L. MOHLER. 

